THE DEEP
I must have peace, increasing peace;
Oh, not a brave,
A fleeting interval between
Each breaking wave:
Oh, not a brave,
A fleeting interval between
Each breaking wave:
Oh, not a treacherous pause between
The gathering gales;
Nor rest in the white fleece of cloud
Cold winter trails;
The gathering gales;
Nor rest in the white fleece of cloud
Cold winter trails;
Oh, not a temporal winter, not
A fitful sleep;
But such a lasting winter as
Dark oceans keep.
A fitful sleep;
But such a lasting winter as
Dark oceans keep.
Beneath all tides there sleeps a depth
Of cold fecundity,—
A zone that spins and spins a fine
Transparency.
Of cold fecundity,—
A zone that spins and spins a fine
Transparency.
There must be such a wintry zone
For teeming thought,
Where forms the mildest ray would crush
Are slowly wrought;
For teeming thought,
Where forms the mildest ray would crush
Are slowly wrought;
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